ememby

Instagram, week nine

Posted on June 2, 2012 | 4 comments

No Music Monday post today… just playing catch up so you get my last weeks’ Instagram photos instead, but I will talk about them so there’s that 😉

Can I also request prayers today for my former middle school teacher, Roger Small (who I still have the hardest time calling just Roger and not, Mr. Small)… he’s having his hip replaced today. According to his wife, Mrs. Small (I mean Jan – she was my math teacher who once accused me of having a smokers cough – I just had bad tonsils), he’s never had major surgery tomorrow and what a whammy to have. Here’s hoping he has a smooth surgery and an uneventful recovery.

Simon makes pancakes on Saturday mornings – this was from two weeks ago because this past weekend I thwarted his efforts by feeding the children berries and yogurt so they weren’t hungry (and by they, I mean just Liam because Jack doesn’t like pancakes, why would he?). But Simon instead did pancakes for lunch so everyone was happy.

Jack peeking out of his stroller to see if it was still raining. It was but we headed into the Fulton Street Farmers Market so all was good after that. Rhubarb and asparagus, yum!

Blogged about this already – the kick ball game where the dads were not at all lenient on the children. This is also what I always imagined live would be like with kids.

All the kiddos in attendance from my get together with the college friends… I think we had two kids looking at the camera but only one crying so that’s a success? But that’s a whole lot of kids between the ages of 1.5 and not-quite-7.

This stuff looks frightening but it is delicious and because it is green and contains all healthy things, you can feel totally superior when you drink it. Totally superior.

I didn’t actually buy anything from Hollister but we were given this bad to bring home some stuff. I just can’t get behind a bag with a nipple on it. I mean, come on.

Dueling water bottles at the track. Hydration is mucho importante.

Before Liam pulled too far ahead and left a very sad Jack behind. But they were great little runners! Someday Jack’s legs will grow and he’ll stay caught up with Liam. Here’s hoping.

We got a new recycle bin/trash can combo. I’m sadly thrilled about this purchase (and to gain additional counter space by removing our recycling bin – we had to keep it there to keep it away from Jack, we’ve all seen what he can do with a couch cushion, imagine the damage with recyclables).

This is what George does every night when we go to bed – curls up on Simon’s side of the bed… like maybe this time, after seven years, he’ll get to sleep there for the night.

Blurry but funny because Jack told me he was “pinking” at me. I did not correct him (sadly, Simon did).

Cute rabbit outside my window at work. Much bigger than the stupid rabbit at home that is eating my plants.

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Posted in Instagram

Five Question Friday

Posted on June 1, 2012 | 6 comments

It’s Friday… woo hoo!

Liam has two days of school left… where has the year gone?

We’re going on a double date this weekend… woo hoo!

Jack is moving up to a new room at daycare on June 11… sob.

It’s raining and 55 out… Monday it was sunny and 90… why does Michigan weather still surprise me?

I finished one of the most dissatisfying books I’ve ever read yesterday so to cleanse my palate, I read a new one… start to finish. This morning I am tired, but not mad at the world because of the bad book. Worth it.

Time for Five Question Friday…

1. What were you scared of as a kid?
So many things…

the Thriller video (thanks, Marty)
something coming out of the toilet to get me
people popping up in windows while I am looking out of them (particularly at night – but I think this happening at any time of day would scare me still)
things chasing me (I hated tag)
big dogs
bees and wasps (still am)
my parents jumping out of the car while we were going down the hill by my house (I had a dream about this and could envision it happening for months afterward every time we rounded the corner at the top of the hill for home). You know… the usual 🙂

2. Do you sleep well in a hotel?
I’d say yes, though it often takes me some time to fall asleep in a new place. Growing up when we’d road trip as a family I would be doomed if I didn’t fall asleep before my parents because they both snored, LOUDLY and I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep for forever if they fell asleep first. But once asleep, I’m fine. Ironically, before I got my tonsils out, I also snored badly. One time Simon (who did and still does snore) and I were in Chicago with our friends, Kara and Andy, and we woke up in the morning and they were gone. Come to find out, we had kept them awake with our snoring so they took everything off their bed and were sleeping in the closet (I have no idea why our chain hotel room had such a big closet). Sorry about that, guys.

3. If you could meet any celebrity, dead or alive, who and why?
I used to answer Robin Williams to this question because any time I see him in an interview, he’s always cracking the other person up and I love a good laugh. But really, I don’t know that I’d have anything to say to him. In general, I’d love to meet a celebrity who I think I could be friends with, with the hopes that they would want to be my friend long after our meeting because how cool would that be… but I’d want to genuinely like them because I can’t fake like someone, I’ve tried.

4. It’s a hot summer day. Do you prefer to be pool side or at the beach?
Depends… If I’m by myself, then pool side but if the kids are with me, beach (fresh water, please). They are happier there and aren’t at as great a risk of drowning because they inexplicably and mistakenly think they can swim. Plus the sand keeps them occupied more than anything could if we were just poolside.

5. What is your favorite summer dish?
Do mojitos count?
{Anything grilled is the cop-out, but real answer.}

Linking up with Mama M for Five Question Friday.

6 Comments

Posted in Five Question Friday, Life in general

Thursday Randoms

Posted on May 31, 2012 | Leave a comment

One of the perks of a shortened holiday week is that I keep thinking we are one day behind in the week (e.g., all day Wednesday I kept thinking it was Tuesday) and what a joy it is to remember it’s actually a day LATER than I was thinking; I often thing it is the wrong day of the week but am typically disappointed to find out I am not one day ahead of what I was thinking. Hooray.
I truly think you can tell the kind of person someone is by how they treat children they encounter. To wit, this morning Liam came to work with me for a little bit before school and on our way out to the car, we ran into one of the trainers from next door, the one who intimidates me the most because the first time I met him with his large black lab I mistakenly asked if he called his dog Sparty (because I thought I had heard him say this and was going to make conversation with him about being a MSU Spartan fan) but instead he sternly said, “No, his name is Spartacus, like the slave.” [Um, okay. Noted.] But this morning, we passed Mr. No Smiles and he warmly greeted Liam with a, “Hey there, buddy.” And now he’s okay in my book.
Yesterday I got a phone call at work from a sales guy from Jordan (yes, the country) who was trying to sell me his translation services or convince me to market his business in the States. After I said no multiple times, he switched gears to trying to get me to import water for him from the Jordan River to sell to churches for baptismal purposes. Seriously?
Jack is getting in on the music love… Monday I heard him singing a song at Kara’s house and realized he was singing “Sweeter” by Gavin DeGraw and when we got in the car this morning, he requested “Some Nights” by fun. Love it.
Speaking of music, Liam told me this morning that he really likes the One Direction song, “What Makes You Beautiful” and then asked if it was by the same people who sing “Moves Like Jagger” because they sound the same. I’m sure Adam Levine would be thrilled to hear he sounds like a boy band (though technically Maroon 5 is a man band, they just don’t do choreographed dance moves).
Simon got a migraine Monday night and while I’m sad he felt so crappy, it made me secretly glad because now I think he’ll be more sympathetic and understanding when I have one because until you experience one, you just don’t get how a headache can make you feel so bad. Sorry honey, but I believe you got a migraine to teach you empathy.
I always think of things I want to add to these random lists and try to remember them all until I type them up but inevitably I forget one and I’m so bummed. I just want to share all my mindless thoughts with you.
Jack is moving up to an older room at daycare soon – makes me mucho sad because while I’m sure it is perfectly fine, I LOVE the room he is in now and his teachers. Plus, this means he’s growing up and while he’s physically still a shrimp, it’s only a matter of time before I have another big boy and not a little guy (try as he may to convince me that he’s still little so he can get another hit off a pacifier).
The boys and I walked yesterday and after we did a few circles around the track at the high school (the boys like to run together but then Liam pulls ahead and Jack pouts until Liam stops and waits for him to catch up – repeat again and again) we were walking down the hill to the sidewalk and Liam very doubtfully says, “I guess you’re getting a little skinnier, mom.” Gee, thanks.
Also on our walk, we went past a dead (but not flattened) squirrel lying on the sidewalk – Liam seriously determined that cause of death was either electrocution or falling from somewhere. And then it was the first thing he told Simon about this morning, “I’m going with electrocution.” Apparently this made quite an impact on him. I’m just glad there is one less squirrel in the world (also glad squirrels don’t read blogs because I’m quite certain they would picket my house and then I would have to die).
Until yesterday my children did not have bikes. Now they do. Just thought you should know.
For my husband, who inquired what I wanted for my birthday, please see here, here or here.
I’m a little addicted to the Cross Me app… it’s a Japanese crossword game that is like a mix of Sudoku and those slider puzzles that you move the tiles around until a picture is revealed (sort of, but not really).
“Wonderwall” (by Oasis) just came on my iTunes… happy.
Simon taught Jack to say “Bow chicka wow wow” this weekend.. it’s both inappropriate and impossibly cute.
Liam discovered that he likes asparagus and last night requested a bowl of mixed berries to go with his dinner… I have renewed hope that I’m raising kids who will eat normally. [Let’s not discuss Jack’s eating habits. Only to say that feeding a kid who constantly says he’s hungry but who won’t eat many things is a challenge to say the least, especially when he doesn’t like to eat the same food multiple times in a day.]
James Van Der Beek’s children are named Olivia and Joshua. Now you know.
I watched Fast & Furious (stellar sequel to The Fast & the Furious) and GI Joe Rise of the Cobra both on USA this weekend… it’s like I don’t even know myself. They weren’t horrible. Sienna Miller actually does a passable American accent but does not make a convincing action movie villain (I believe they may have cast her more for her ability to fill out a plunging neckline).
My nephew in Texas is graduating from high school this weekend. Considering I clearly recall the first time I met him and having him promptly spit up on me, I feel properly verclempt (and old) that this milestone is being reached. Congrats, Mitch, we are SO proud!
As a follow up to yesterday’s texting post, I’d like to express frustration over autocorrect’s over zealous insistence on making me “live” things instead of “love” things and changing “this” to “thus” almost every time. Do people even use the word “thus” with such regularity that autocorrect would “think” I mean that?
And now “Glycerine” by Bush is playing (I have it on random for my Top Rated songs) – apparently iTunes wants me to revisit the 90s.

Funny text exchanges

Posted on May 30, 2012 | 13 comments

Because I don’t delete my text conversations, Simon rolls his eyes at me when I tell him the number it shows next to certain friends’ names which indicates the ridiculous number of texts we’ve sent back and forth to each other… but we all avoid talking on the phone and it’s much nicer to go back and forth with a friend in a non-public setting (people who have endless conversations on each other’s facebook walls, I’m looking at you). I was super sad when my phone up and died earlier this year, not just because it was a huge pain the rear, but also because I lost all my texts and that made me sad. Some awesome tidbits were in that back log… pregnancies, birthday wishes, unexpected relocations back to Michigan, silly exchanges… and they were lost. Woe to me (first world problems, I have them).

In the interest of not losing these things… here are some text exchanges that have amused me, names withheld to protect the innocent (a.k.a., my friends who share my texting “problem”).

Me: I’m baaack! [meaning, I got my phone back]
Her: Yes! Yes! Yes!
Her: Oh… and I’m pregnant?
Me: What… for real? This does not seem like a joke thing so OH MY GOODNESS!! SO HAPPY!
[same person, couple months later]
Me: You just butt-dialed me.
Her: Actually you were in my front pocket… so I baby-dialed you!

Her: Just remembered the downside to warmer weather… more baths. Ideally, that is.
Me: I was thinking the very same thing today… guess my kids will be stinky
Her: At least my kids will be in good company.

Her: Seeing you always warms the cockels of my heart. Except I talked too much. I hate when I do that.
Me: You did not talk too much… I wonder if this is a common misconception on both our parts.
Me: PS I feel the same way about the cockel-warming. 🙂
Her: Nothing worse that cold cockels. Except maybe finding egg drippings in your turtleneck two hours later.
Me: Better than two days later.

Me: In other news… Is it my archenemy, a squirrel?
Her: At least it’s not in your bed.
Me: Thank God for small favors (or relatively large ones, because a creature in my bed would freak me the frak out)

Her: Our friends just had a baby named Liam, joining his big brother Jack.
Me: This probably means I could never be friends with them.

Her: And the KY “date night” display at the end of the diaper aisle seems very out of place.
Me: Eww, why go there in the diaper aisle? No place I feel more in the mood. Really.

Her: I’m watching Oklahoma. I think I’m a nerd.

Her: We’re on a date but can send when I get home.
Me: Please, hurry home from your date and get me that recipe, woman., Where are your priorities?
Her: Told [hubby] we had to go 🙂

Me: Dawson (a.k.a., James vanderbeek) had a baby today and now I feel old.
Me: I follow the beek on Twitter, this is how I know. Sad.
Her: Did Dawson name his kid after a fruit or color??

Me: How ate you today?
Her: I ate ok…
[both of our autocorrects thwarted our efforts to type “are”]

Her: We ate neurotic crazy people.
Her: We ARE
Her: Didn’t take up cannibalism

Her: I’m blaming the time change for all of this bedtime angst.
Me: I’m blaming my crappy kids.

Her: Choice? Chioce? neither are looking right

Me: Just left the van door open while we were at Target.
Her: Did you check for stowaways.
Me: Didn’t but we just gave them a ride to Kava House
Her: Well, aren’t they lucky?

Her: How’s your night?
Me: Praying for the boys to finally fall asleep and drinking wine…
Her: Drinking crystal light
Her: You win.

Her: Top of my list of things I don’t love: grumpy husbands
Me: Trump card, you are making another human
Her: Exactly. 🙂
Me: Poo on him 🙂

Her: If I could go back and tell my college self some words of advice, one thing I would say would be to get some damn sleep already.
Me: And take up running.
Her: And don’t major in poli sci
Me: And don’t bother with premed
Her: Enjoy all the friend time. It will NEVER be like that again.
Her: Also, switch to diet coke ASAP, Sprite is going you no favors.

Me: What vibe am I putting out there?
Her: You’re crazy and you know it!

Her: [she] is annoying in all forms… maybe she can become a life coach?

Me: I dreamt two nights ago of Nathan Fillion, downton abbey, a bag of umbrellas and a rapid squirrel.
Her: A fast squirrel or a poisonous squirrel?

Me: Thanks for the diet coke PSA
Her: Just trying to help 🙂
Me: I’ll quit when you do.
Her: Maybe the week after we quit sugar?
Me: But first I need to give up coffee
Me: diet coke is safe for now
Her: Hooray!!

Her: Diet coke is good for the heart and the teeth.
Me: It’s practically a health food.

13 Comments

Posted in Life in general, Texting

Long weekends

Posted on May 29, 2012 | 5 comments

This was the first long weekend in a while where we packed it full of stuff (and still my kids don’t want to fall asleep – what is wrong with them? Don’t they know sleep is good? Again I reiterate my intention to wake them periodically when they are teenagers with loud noises and endless questions.) Despite the non-sleepers, we had so much fun – makes me excited for the rest of summer!

Most people count the weekend as starting on Friday, but not me since Simon isn’t home on Friday nights. Though he did get home slightly earlier than normal and got to laugh and me when my friend, Amy, and I texted each other good night. [This was similar to the reaction I used to get from my parents who would think the conversations I had on the phone – for hours – in high school were ridiculous. Girl friendships are awesome is what I’m saying.]

Saturday
Pancakes made by dad

Inaugural trip of the season to the newly-reopened Farmer’s Market. Sadly only asparagus and rhubarb were in season (they didn’t get strawberries until today). We did get to enjoy one of the food carts – Silver Spork – which I’ll be blogging about for grkids.com this week.

Lunch with Amy, Nick and Maggie (Jack calls her Maggie Moo, which makes me so happy) complete with marker makeup. Lovely. Thankfully the marker washed right off and didn’t get on any of the furniture.

I caught Liam licking the fridge… I don’t know why. Yes, I think that is ill-advised.

Here the children are pouting because we aren’t leaving yet for our friends’ house. Liam asked me not to show this picture to Sarah (Sarah – please avert your eyes) I told him I would just share it on Facebook – guess I lied since I’m instead putting it on my blog.

Saturday night we had delicious Chicken Tikka Masala with Sarah, Brian, Josiah, Miles and Wesley (Jack, of course, had leftover, reheated McDonald’s nuggets and fries) topped off with homemade vanilla ice cream topped with rhubarb sauce (fresh from the market). The adults were going to play Ticket to Ride after the kids went to bed but ours never went to sleep so we ended up having to take them home – boo on you children. And boo on having to follow through on threats with actual consequences.

Sunday
I gloriously got to sleep in on Sunday – though technically since I didn’t actually fall asleep until nearly 2 and woke up at 11, I got 9 hours of sleep (still a ton) but that’s about 3-4 more hours than I got each night the rest of the week so double bonus. [I have insomnia, I know not why. If you tell me it is related to Diet Coke, I will not listen to you.]

We met our small group at the park for a BBQ and kick ball. 10 adults, 15 children – good time had by all.

While the rest of the children happily ate hotdogs, Jack stated “I no yike hot dogs!” and instead chowed down on a variety of chip products and a whoopie pie (chocolate with salted peanut butter filling, from this recipe here). [My blog is perfect fodder for figuring out why Jack will have food issues later in life – I assure you, he does eat fruits and vegetables, just not much protein – or variety.]

The happiest grill master!

We played parents vs. kids and while the kids might have pulled out a win, the dads did not hold back or pull any punches when it came to striking the kids out while the mothers cheered everyone on and rolled our eyes at our husbands.

Monday
It’s a tradition to get together with my college friends and our families over Memorial Day weekend so we did it again (last year’s post). This year Andy smoked up a whole bunch of meat… we left with happy, fully tummies! I just love my friends and miss the ones who weren’t there. Here’s to a million more years as friends!